Teething device



Feb. 22,1927. 131891 A. J. HANSEN TEETHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 1925 gwuento'p Patented Feb. 22, 1927.

I ALFRED J'. HANSEN, OF STORM LAKE, IOWA.

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Application filed December 2,1925. Serial No. 72,748.

This invention relates to a teething device .or use by infants in cutting teeth and one object of the invention is to so construct the teething device that the infant may readily hold it and place one end thereof in its mouth when in either a' sitting or a reclining position.

Another object of the invention is to provide the teething device with a headportion 1 to be inserted in the month, this head being so shaped that the child may readily bite it with the front portions of the gums and thereby permit the front teeth which are the first to appear to be easily cut Another object of the invention is to so form the head that it may be used with equal facility by children having mouths of various sizes and to further so construct it that it will to some extent conform to the contour of the gum line at the front'of' the mouth.

Another object of the invention is to provide the handle or shank portion of the device with a head at one end by means of which the device may be hung from a support and which will serve as abutment means to engage the hand and prevent the shank from slipping out of the childs grasp, the abutment head further serving as a teething 0 ring upon which the teeth at the sides of the mouth may be out if they cannot be easily reached with the head at the other end of the shank.

This invention is illustrated in panying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved teething device,

- Figure 2 is a view showing the teething device in side elevation with one portion of 40 the abutment head broken away,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modified form of handle, and

Figure 4 is a view illustrating a teethlng device of a modified construction.

The teething device forming the subjectmatter of this invention includes a shank or handle '1 having at one end an abutment head which may be of a ring-like formation the accomas shown in Figures 1 and 2 and indicated by the numeral 2 or may be solid as shown at 3 in Figure 3 and of the specific shape disclosed therein or of a modified outline if so desired. At-the other end of the handle is a head 4 of a concavo-convex formation and of greater width than the handle. The

teething device is preferably formed of molded rubber which is of sufficient softness to permit of its being compressed somewhat when gripped between the gums but sufficiently stiff to prevent the gums from biting into the rubber and forming permanent depressions therein. It will thus be seen that, when in use, the device will serve very effectively to cause the gums to be pressed upwardly or downwardly and the teeth forced through the gums. The head 4 has been provided with a concavo-convex formation so that when placed in the mouth the forward portion of the gums may readily grip the head whp a biting action is applied and the teeth'at the front easily cut. It should be further noted that the head is son'lewlm-t of an elliptical shape in top plan, as shown inFigure 1, but has its rear end portion substantially semicircular and gradually tapers forwardly and merges into a rounded end. Therefore,-the width of the head 4.- increases towards its rear end so that children having mouths of different sizes may thrust the head into the mouth the proper distance to permit of the front teethand certain of the side teeth being readily cut. By having the head 2 formed as a ring, this head may be used as a teething rmg and the side teeth readily cut. The heads 'extend substantially parallel to each other,

as shown in Figure 2, and the handle or shank extends at the incline shown so that when the child is sitting or reclining in a carriage or crib the device may be readily held and either head placed in the mouth. There has, therefore, been provided a teething device which is so formed that it can be readil held and further provided with a head )y means of which the teeth at the front and sides may be easily cutj If it is desired to provide a teething device which will have greater strength and not be as liableto be destroyed by rough usage, the construct-ion shown'in Figure 4 may be employed. Referring to this figure it will be seen that instead of forming the device of solid rubber there has been provided a body portion 5 which is formed of a rigid substance such as metal. This body portion which conforms to the shape of the teething device and is of the proper size is coated with melted rubber which is then vulcanized. A teething device formed as indicated above will be very durable ,asit cannot be broken if pulled from opposite ends or destroyed shank being diagonally disposed with reby being twisted. spect to the respective heads to retain the 10 Having thus described the invention, I heads in offset spaced relation with the rim claim: of the hollow head in a parallel plane with '5 As a new article of manufacture, a teeththe ring like head.

ing device comprisin a shank, a ring-like In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

head upon one end t ereof, a hollow head i Y upon the opposite end of the shank, said ALFRED J. HANSEN. 

